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Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory storage medium

Active Publication Date: 2015-05-28
CANON KK
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for removing components of scattered light from an image to reduce the influence of scattered light. The apparatus includes an acquisition unit for acquiring a color image, a derivation unit for deriving reference intensities for different color components in the image, and a setting unit for assigning weights to each pixel in the image based on the reference intensities. A generation unit then uses these weights to correct pixel values in the image to reduce the influence of scattered light. The invention can improve image quality and reduce blurring caused by scattered light.

Problems solved by technology

In the field of surveillance cameras and the like, there is a problem in that visibility is reduced due to the influence of particles (for example, fog or mist) existing between a camera and an object, and the image quality of a captured image is degraded.
A cause of this is that light is scattered by particle components when the light passes through the atmosphere.
In the technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,340,461, however, contrast is corrected without consideration of a difference between two light scattering characteristics of the above-mentioned Mie scattering and Rayleigh scattering, and blue light scattered due to Rayleigh scattering in particular is therefore not corrected sufficiently.

Method used

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  • Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory storage medium
  • Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory storage medium
  • Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory storage medium

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0023]In a first embodiment, for each of R, G, and B channels, detection of scattered light is performed, and thus not only a reduction in contrast due to Mie scattering but also coloring due to Rayleigh scattering is corrected. The configuration of this embodiment will be described below.

[0024]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. The image processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a random access memory (RAM) 102, a read only memory (ROM) 103, a hard disk drive (HDD) interface (I / F) 104, an HDD 105, an input I / F 106, an output I / F 107, and a system bus 108. The CPU 101 is a processor that performs centralized control of components to be described below. The RAM 102 is a memory functioning as a main memory of the CPU 101 and a work area, and the ROM 103 is a memory storing a program for performing processes in the image processing apparatus...

second embodiment

[0056]The method according to the first embodiment enables an image in which both a component corresponding to Mie scattering (hereinafter referred to as a Mie scattering component) and a component corresponding to Rayleigh scattering (hereinafter referred to as a Rayleigh scattering component) are removed to be obtained. However, it is known that, in an actual image, even if there is no fog, mist, or the like, scattering due to Rayleigh scattering occurs. That is, when the degree of removal of Rayleigh scattering is kept to such an extent that an intensity of Rayleigh scattering is adjusted, a more natural image will be obtained. Thus, in a second embodiment, a more natural scattered-light-removed image is obtained by adding a Rayleigh scattering component whose intensity is corrected to the image which is obtained in the first embodiment and in which both a Mie scattering component and a Rayleigh scattering component are removed. A Mie scattering component is defined as a pixel va...

third embodiment

[0074]In the second embodiment, there has been described a method in which a more natural scattered-light-removed image is obtained by adding a Rayleigh scattering component whose intensity is corrected to an image in which both a Mie scattering component and a Rayleigh scattering component are removed. However, in some places where an image is captured, even in an image captured in clear weather, a small amount of scattering due to Mie scattering may occur. In an image captured in such a place, if the degree of removal of Mie scattering is excessively strong, an unnatural image may be generated. Thus, in a third embodiment, natural scattered-light-removed images appropriate to various scenes are obtained by adding not only a Rayleigh scattering component whose intensity is corrected but also a Mie scattering component whose intensity is corrected to an image in which both a Mie scattering component and a Rayleigh scattering component are removed.

[0075]A process performed in an imag...

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Abstract

At least one image processing apparatus, and at least one method, of the present invention(s) generate a corrected image obtained by removing, from a color image whose pixel values contain components derived from scattered light, at least part of the components derived from the scattered light. The at least one image processing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate the corrected image by correcting a pixel value of a first color component of each pixel in the color image by using a first reference intensity and a weight value, and by correcting a pixel value of a second color component of each pixel in the color image by using a second reference intensity and a weight value.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention(s) relate to image processing that reduces the influence of scattered light.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]In the field of surveillance cameras and the like, there is a problem in that visibility is reduced due to the influence of particles (for example, fog or mist) existing between a camera and an object, and the image quality of a captured image is degraded. A cause of this is that light is scattered by particle components when the light passes through the atmosphere. It is known that the light scattering in the atmosphere has two types. One is Mie scattering which is caused by particles, such as particles of dust, grit, and water vapor, whose particle diameters are larger than the wavelength of light. Because Mie scattering occurs regardless of the wavelength of light, when Mie scattering occurs, the further an object is from the camera, the more the contrast of the object is redu...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G06K9/46G06K9/40G06K9/60H04N1/60G06V10/56G06V10/60
CPCG06K9/4652H04N1/60G06K9/60G06K9/4661G06K9/40G06T2207/10024G06T2207/20012G06V20/52G06V10/60G06V10/56G06T5/90G06T5/73
Inventor ITOH, YASUHIROSEKINE, HISATO
Owner CANON KK
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